Mali Counterterrorism Investigation Reporter
Budget: $30 – $250 USD
My outlet is commissioning a ground-level investigation into counterterrorism operations and extremist activity inside Mali, with the explicit goal of uncovering information that has not yet reached the public record. I will rely on you to identify and cultivate your own sources— whether within local communities, security forces, aid groups, or rebel circles— and to verify every claim through documents, interviews, and on-site observation.
Scope
• Map recent militant movements, tactics, and funding flows.
• Examine government and foreign-led countermeasures and their real-world impact on civilians.
• Document human-rights implications, corruption trails, or logistical gaps that mainstream reports may have missed.
Deliverables
1. A publish-ready feature of roughly 3,000 words, clearly attributed and fully fact-checked.
2. Supporting evidence: raw interview audio, transcripts, photographs, and any primary documents obtained.
3. A brief methodology note explaining how each piece of information was verified and the level of source confidence.
Acceptance Criteria
• All sources are independently contacted and logged with context for editorial review.
• Quotes and statistics cross-checked against at least two corroborating points of evidence.
• Material complies with basic security protocols for both journalist and contributors.
If you have experience reporting from conflict zones, fluency in French or Bambara, and a track record of rigorous investigative work, I’d like to see samples of previous security reporting along with a short outline of how you would approach the first two weeks in the field.
Scope
• Map recent militant movements, tactics, and funding flows.
• Examine government and foreign-led countermeasures and their real-world impact on civilians.
• Document human-rights implications, corruption trails, or logistical gaps that mainstream reports may have missed.
Deliverables
1. A publish-ready feature of roughly 3,000 words, clearly attributed and fully fact-checked.
2. Supporting evidence: raw interview audio, transcripts, photographs, and any primary documents obtained.
3. A brief methodology note explaining how each piece of information was verified and the level of source confidence.
Acceptance Criteria
• All sources are independently contacted and logged with context for editorial review.
• Quotes and statistics cross-checked against at least two corroborating points of evidence.
• Material complies with basic security protocols for both journalist and contributors.
If you have experience reporting from conflict zones, fluency in French or Bambara, and a track record of rigorous investigative work, I’d like to see samples of previous security reporting along with a short outline of how you would approach the first two weeks in the field.